Cleat device



9, 1956 RENEQEAN JOUANNO 3,264,?

I CLEAT DEVICE Filed June so. 1964 United States Patent 11 Claims. (c1. 24-134 This invention relates to devices of the general class known as cleats, serving to fasten or belay the loose ends of ropes on board water-craft. It relates more particularly to devices of the type sometimes known as wedge-action cleats, which include at least one eccentered cam plate rotatable about an axis and spring-urged to an advanced position in which an active edge surface, which preferably is serrated, of the cam plate is advanced adjacent to an opposing surface, preferably also serrated, of a stationary abutment member or of a similar and symmetrically arranged excentric cam plate. The arrangement is such that when the loose end of a rope or sheet is drawn through the nip defined between the active edge surface of the cam and the opposing surface,

the spring force tends to rotate the cam (or each cam) in a direction to wedge the rope against the opening surface and thereby block it in place.

Conventional wedge-action cleat devices include a relatively large number of separate parts. Thus in the case of a two-cam wedge-action cleat there is usually provided a base, two cam pivots, two cams, two biasing spring for the respective cams, plus two retainer washers for axially blocking the cams on their pivots and cotter pins or the like for retaining the washers.

It is an object of this invention to provide a wedgeaction cleat device which will be of simplified construction and hence will be cheaper and more efiicient, stronger and more reliable than the conventional devices.

In one form of the invention there is provided a wedgeaction cleat device comprising a base having a flanged side Wall, at least one cam plate, means eccentrically pivoting the cam plate on the base whereby the cam plate is rotatable between a retracted angular position and an advanced position in which an active edge surface of the cam plate is positioned adjacent an opposing surface of the device for wedging a rope between aid surfaces, and a resilient appendage formed unitarily or integrally with the cam plate on a side thereof remote from said active edge and resiliently engageable with a flanged side wall of the base so as to bias the cam plate towards said advanced position thereof.

Preferably said opposing surface constitutes the active edge surface of a second cam plate pivoted on the base and constructed and arranged symmetrically to the first cam plate and provided with a similar resilient appendage integral with it on the side remote from its said active edge and resiliently engage-able with a flanged side wall of the base remote from the first side wall, whereby both cam plates are biased by their respective resilient appendages to advanced positions in which their active edges closely confront each other.

In a preferred construction, the or each cam plate together with its integral appendage is or are made from a plastic composition having the requisite strength and resiliency characteristics.

The above and further features of the invention will stand out clearly from the ensuing description of an embodiment of the invention selected by way of illustration PatentedAugust 9, H966 "ice but not of limitation and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an improved wedge-action cleat device in overhead plan view;

FIG. 2 is a corresponding view in plan from below;

FIG. 3 is a section on line III-III of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a section on line IVIV of FIG. 3.

The clea-t device shown, which is a two-cam device, consists of only three parts, namely a flanged base or casing 1 closed at its top and open at its bottom and two similar and symmetrically arranged eccentric cam plates or gripping members 2 and 3 pivoted therein.

The base or casing 1 may be a moulding of a suitable plastic composition, e.g. nylon, and is in the general form of a plate 6 closing its top and having a perpendicular flange 7 projecting from its under side around the periphery of the plate, so as to provide a surrounding side wall. The flange 7 moreover extends from the inner area of the plate 6 as at 7 so as to define a pair of laterally spaced partially-closed symmetrical compartments 25 and 26, as apparent in FIG. 4, having openings in their confronting walls. The plate 6 is formed with an openended slot or recess 8 extending completely across it in the area between the two compartments 25 and 26, and in this area the side wall flange-s 7 are bridged by a transverse bridge portion 9 positioned near their lower ends and paralelling the recess 8.

Further, a pair of cylindrical bosses 11 and 12 project from the under side of the plate 6 within the respective compartments 25 and 26, and the bosses are formed with bores 13 and 14 for the insertion of screws for securing the device to the boat.

The device includes a pair of block-like cam plates or gripping members 2 and 3, which are suitably made from a plastic resin composition known by the registered trade name Delrin, and each having a hub part such as 18 or 19 which is rotatably fitted around a respective one of the bosses 11, 12. Each cam plate has an eccentric arcuate gripping edge 27, 28 respectively, which edges are preferably serrated as shown and are arranged to confront each other when the cams or gripping members 2 and 3 are mounted in their respective positions.

Formed integrally with each cam plate is an integrally formed elongated arcuate appendage or extension, 21 and 22 respectively, which extends away from the edge of the gripping member generally remote from its active edge 27 or 28. The appendages 21 and 22 are of rectangular cross-sectional configuration and they are shaped arcuately somewhat as segments of spirals the radius of curvature of which increases progressively towards the free ends thereof, and they are preferably tapered in thickness progressively from their roots to their outer free ends as shown, so as to present approximately an equalresistance contour. The appendages 21, 22 are so dimensioned in regard to the resiliency characteristics of the material from which the cams are made, as to possess substantial elasticity in flexion; that is a force applied to to free end of the appendage 21 or 22 in the plane of the gripping member, will deflect the appendage by a substantial angle from its normal unstressed position, and this position will be elastically resumed on removal of the deflecting force. When the cams 2 and 3 are mounted in position as described above, the appendages 21 and 22 bear resiliently against the inner adjacent surfaces of the -thecams are blocked in "position.

. described above.

theiractive edges 27 and 28 project through the openings in the confronting walls of the compartments 25 and 26, into mutual engagementor near-engagement.

In assembling the device, the appendages 21' and 22.

of the cams are first manually deflected inwards, i.e. to-

wards the main body of the cam, and in this distorted, position each cam can be inserted into its compartment 25 portion 9 (see FIG. 2) for limiting the inward rotation .of the; cams under the spring action of the appendages, .and thus positively locating the normal condition of the device.

In operation, in order to relay a rope such as 4 (FIG; 1), it is only necessary to draw the rope across the device through the nip defined between the active edges 27. and 28 of the cams, thereby causing the cams to rotate away from. each other in opposition to the biassing -actiomof their spring appendages. When the rope is re leased, the active cam edges 25, .26 resiliently engage the ropeand the serrations in said edges grip the rope material topreventslippage, in a generally conventional manner.

The improved wedge-action cleat device of the invention will be seen to be extremely simple and inexpensjve of manufacture, mount and instal aboard a craft. Be-

cause of the very small number of components, three as here shown, it is not only economical but operates efiici- .ently and reliably for longperiocls of time.

.It will be understood that the invention can be embodied in various ways other than that specifically shown and described. Thus an operative device may obviously be constructed using only one rotatable cam rather than two,

If desired, stops 23 and 24 -may be .formed on the under surfaces of the respective cams for engagement with the related side edges of the bridging the active edge such as 27 of the single cam then cooper ating with fixed confronting surface, forming part of :the base or casing 1, for gripping the rope.

The cam or cams may be made from various materials, including metal, e.g. spring steel or suitably treated light alloys. However, it is preferred at present-toconstruct the cams from a resilient plastic composition, andxas earlier mentioned thecomposition known as Delrin has been found especially satisfactory in that, in addition to its strength and resiliency, it possesses self-lubricating properties which are useful in facilitating the rotational contact, between the engaging surfaces of the cams and the base.

What I claim is:

1. Awedge-action cleat device comprising a base member, two symmetrically related cams, means, eccentrically pivoting the cams on a common general plane'whereby the cams are rotatable towards each other .to advanced positions and awayv from each other to retracted position, said cams having active edges which closely confronteach other in said advanced positions of the cams'for wedging a rope therebetween,resiliently defiectable appendages unitary with the respective cams and extending fromside edges thereof generally remote from said active edges, and means on said base member. defining surfacesengaging the respective appendages forresilientlydeflecting. said appendages to bias the. respective cams to their said advanced positions.

2. A rope-belaying device comprising a base member in the form of a recessed plate. and a flange extending from'the periphery of the plate at an under side thereof to define peripheral side walls'of said base member, two symmetrically related cams and means eccentiically piv- 4.- T oting the cams to therunder side of the basemember so as tobe generally surrounded by said side walls, said cams being rotatable towards each other toadvanced positions.

and away from each other to retracted positions, said cams having active vedgeswhich closely confront each other in said advanced positions of the cams for wedging a rope therebetween and resiliently deflectableappendages unitary with the respective cams and extending from side edges thereof generally remote from said active edges, said appendages resiliently engaging inner surfaces of said side walls of the base member for resiliently biassing the Y respective cams to said advanced positions 3.Thedevice defined in claim 2, wherein said .base

member plate has a recess extending across itbetween the two camsfor insertion of a rope between the active edges of the cams, and a bridging portion paralelling the recess andinterconnecting .opposite portions of said side,

walls nearthe lower ends thereof.

4. The device defined in claim 3,-wherein said base. .member plate has two generally. cylindrical bosses projecting form its under side and said cams have hub porvtions'rotatably engageable around said bosses for pivoting said cams; and axialbores through said bosses for insertion of screw rods to mount the device on supporting structure.

5. The device definediin claim 4, wherein the parts are so dimensioned .that the cams, .on forced manual deflection of the appendages thereof are inserta ble with their hub portions around therelatedbosses and on subsequent release of the appendages the .cams' are retained in position with their under surfaces engaging upper surfaces of said bridging portion. 7

6. A rope .belaying .device comprising a base member, at least one: generally. flat cam-made of a plastic resin composition having substantial resiliency, means pivoting-the cam on the base member whereby vthe cam is rotatable between aretracted andan. advanced position,

means defining a backing surface, said .cam inits advanced;

position having :an active :edge surface. thereof closelyconfronting said backing surface for wedgin'g a rope there: against, an appendage.formedtintegrally with i the cam and. extending in arcuate, tapered configuration :from

a side edge of the cam generally remote from'saidactiv'e edge,vand means on said base member: defining a surface engaging said appendage for resiliently deflecting it to bias the cam to its said advanced position.-

7., The device defined in'clairn 1, wherein said cams.-

are made, fromplastic resin composition having substantial resiliency .and said appendages are formed integral with said cams and are of generally arcuate, tapered configuration.

8.- A cleat device :comprisingza unitary housing open at its bottom and closed at itstop, said housing including side walls definingtwo-symmetn'cally arranged laterally spaced portions interconnected at-said open bottom 'by a bridge portion whereby a line may be .-passed=over said bridge portion between said spaced portions,.sai:d walls defining said spaced portions having confronting apertures formed therein extending upwardly. from ;said bridge'portion, said housing including two cylindrical bosses extending downwardly from said closed top, each boss being located centrally within one of said spaced housingpor tions;.two block-like, gripping members each'formedof resilient plasticmaterial and each journaled on one of said bosses, said members projecting towards each other through said aperturesaand having eccentric arcuate co-:

operating serrated gripping edge'sifo'r' securing said line therebetween, each of saidgripping members having an. integrally formed elongatedarcuate extension including a free end portion which engages a side wall:portion of said housing, each extension yieldinglyurging the gripping mernber on which it is formed to rotate to. move its eccentric gripping :edgetowardthe cooperating edge of the othergripping member, and stop means for limit ing the movement of said gripping edges towards each others.

9. A cleat device according to claim 8, wherein each of said extensions extends arcuately around the gripping member on which it is formed, the radius of curvature increasing progressively towards said free end portion and the thickness in the radial direction decreasing progressively towards said free end portion.

10. A cleat according to claim 9, wherein the crosssectional configuration of each of said extensions is rectangular.

11. A cleat device according to claim 8, wherein each of said gripping members has a projection formed thereon which engages said housing for limiting rotation of said gripping member in response to said urging by said extension, said stop means being constituted by said projections.

References (Jited by the Examiner BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WEDGE-ACTION CLEAT DEVICE COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER, TWO SYMMETRICALLY RELATED CAMS, MEANS, ECCENTRICALLY PIVOTING THE CAMS ON A COMMON GENERAL PLANE WHEREBY THE CAMS ARE ROTATABLE TOWARDS EACH OTHER TO ADVANCED POSITIONS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO RETRACTED POSITION, SAID CAMS HAVING ACTIVE EDGES WHICH CLOSELY CONFRONT EACH OTHER IN SAID ADVANCED POSITIONS OF THE CAMS FOR WEDGING A ROPE THEREBETWEEN, RESILIENTLY DEFLECTABLE APPENDAGES 